AOM, the new collection of sofas and armchairs presented by Arper at the Salone del Mobile 2026, embodies a new concept of sustainability based on minimalism. Few components. No glue. No polyurethane.
AOM is constructed from just four interlocking components: an expanded polypropylene (EPP) frame that ensures structural strength while keeping weight to a minimum, Breathair® padding made of elastomeric polyester, recycled polyester padding, and a cover fabric.
The elimination of polyurethane is not a minor technical detail. Polyurethane is found in nearly all upholstered sofas on the market and is currently a major challenge for end-of-life management in the furniture industry, even though several pilot projects are currently underway.
Often, the lack of technologies that enable its chemical or mechanical recycling means that it mostly ends up in landfills or incinerators. Replacing it with a material that is “potentially” more recyclable increases the product’s recycling rate.
The absence of adhesives, in favor of interlocking assembly, makes it easier to disassemble and separate components at the end of their life cycle—a necessary condition for recycling to be truly feasible rather than merely theoretical.

Source and image: arper.com

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